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Discover the incredible weight loss benefits of asparagus, how to best prepare it and how much you should eat to get maximum benefit from asparagus - one of nature's amazing fat burning foods.

Asparagus is a plant that is originally from Eurasia, but is has been looked at as a rare treat since the time of the Roman Empire. It is a vegetable with a green color, a spear, and a head with green buds. You can eat every part of the asparagus spear.

Asparagus may be bought all year long and is available in three different varieties: green (most popular), white and purple. Are you aware of the fact that white asparagus grows without the necessity for sunlight? It is almost impossible to find the purple variety in the United States. It is not available in U.S. supermarkets, but is available in Europe.

Asparagus is cultivated in California and Washington, two states in the U.S., and is also cultivated in Mexico and Chile. These two latter countries export produce to the U.S., which ensures that the vegetable is available most of the time.Fat Burning Benefits of Asparagus

Asparagus is an excellent food source of folate, Vitamin C and potassium. The functions of folate are to support amino acid metabolism, the synthesis of DNA, the production and the repair of white and red blood cells. Research indicates that folic acid can reduce the risk of contracting coronary heart disease.

Vitamin C is helpful in getting rid of your body's infections, and stimulates your metabolism, which enables you to burn more fat.

Potassium is helpful in regulating blood pressure levels and is helpful in maintaining the correct fluid balance in your body.

The vegetable only has a few calories, contains zero fat and cholesterol, and the sodium content is very minute. It is likewise found to have abundant amounts of rutin, a substance that is responsible for strengthening the capillary walls in the body. Plus asparagus is an important food source of Vitamins B-6 and thiamine.

Researchers think it stimulates the immune system and is helpful in lowering cholesterol levels in the body. Furthermore, it contains a good amount of Vitamin E.

Asparagus has inulin, a carbohydrate that is not digested by the body, but rather is used by the body to feed healthy bacteria found in the intestine. This maintains your intestinal tract and keeps it free from unhealthy bacteria.

Asparagus has fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS), a natural diuretic that is a determining factor when trying to burn body fat. These help beneficial bacteria to colonize your colon.

Aspargine is an alkaloid substance found in asparagus that helps to stimulate the kidneys as it is improving the circulation. The alkaloid helps to loosen fat from the cells, due to its ability to break down oxalic acid. When the acid breaks down, the fat is disentangled from the cells.

One-half cup of cooked asparagus has approximately 25% of the daily requirement for folic acid, and more than 80% of the daily requirement for Vitamin C.

Additionally, asparagus has healthy phytochemicals, which are a natural plant source that helps protect the general good health of the body.

Preparing Asparagus

Asparagus is a great food to incorporate into any dish. It tastes scrumptious whether you eat it as vegetable accompaniment to a dish or whether you eat it by itself. Add a few spears of asparagus to a dinner salad you love to eat! It tastes delicious with tuna fish, chicken or a plain, green leafy salad.

If you want to eat something delicious, try dipping either hot or cold asparagus spears into one of your favorite low-fat salad dressings. Eat asparagus as an hors d'oeuvre or an appetizer.

You should pick out sturdy, dark green stalks when you purchase asparagus. Are you aware of the fact that the age can be determined by measuring the thickness of the spear? Younger asparagus plants have extremely thin spears, and older plants have thicker spears. Be certain that you pick out asparagus with straight stalks and tips that are not open. They are not fresh if the stems are hard and do not have a bright green color. Shun these! Additionally, try to find stalks whose cut is moist, instead of dry stalks. You should make sure you pick asparagus that have are the same basic size (in both length and width) to make sure they cook correctly.

It is not a good idea to wash asparagus ahead of time; instead, wait until you are going to eat it. When it is time to wash it, do not immerse it in water. To properly store asparagus, keep in the refrigerator for no longer than two days with the ends cut, and stand them up in a container of water.

If you peel the lower part of the stalks, you will not risk eating the woody parts. This is particularly the case when there are wider stalks.

Amount to Eat

A one-cup serving of asparagus is a mere 90 grams. This equals approximately six asparagus spears. This is a good amount to serve on a daily basis.

Make sure that you eat plenty of veggies of all kinds every week. Eat a variety, and be sure to include half a cup or a cup of asparagus weekly.

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Diabetes is a condition where individuals do not produce adequate insulin to fulfill their body's requirements and/or their cells do not respond appropriately to insulin. Insulin is predominant as it strikes glucose, sugar, into the body's cells from the blood. It additionally has a number of alternative results on metabolism.

The meals that human beings consume provide the body with glucose, which is utilized by the cells as a supply of power. If insulin is not produced or does not work properly to move glucose from the blood into cells, glucose will stay within the blood. Excessive blood glucose levels are toxic, and cells that don't get glucose miss the fuel they need.

There are two types of diabetes: Type 1 diabetes and Type 2 diabetes.

More than 85% of individuals with diabetes have type 2. Total, about 30 million people in North America have diabetes. It has been found that about two-thirds of persons with type 2 are aware of it and are receiving therapy, and for a lot of people, early signs of having diabetes aren't noticeable without testing.

Type 1 diabetes happens when the pancreas can not produce insulin. Every person with type 1 diabetes requires insulin injections.

Type 2 diabetes happens when the pancreas does not produce sufficient insulin or the human body does no longer use insulin correctly. It on the whole happens in adults, even though in some instances kids could also be affected. Individuals with type 2 generally have a family history of this situation and are mostly obese. Individuals with type 2 could in due course need insulin injections.

Yet another much less form is gestational diabetes, a situation that happens at some stage during pregnancy. As per the Canadian Diabetes Association (CDA), depending on some factors, between 3% to 20% of Canadian females develop gestational diabetes. The concern mostly clears up after pregnancy; however women who've had gestational diabetes have bigger chances of developing type 2 diabetes later.

Type 1 diabetes is an autoimmune sickness. It's believed that a mixture of genetic predisposition and further (as but unidentified) reasons provoke the immune procedure into attacking and killing the insulin-producing cells within the pancreas.

The main reason for developing Type 2 diabetes is insulin resistance. This means irrespective of how much or how little insulin is made, the body can not use it as well as it should. Thus, glucose can't be moved from the blood into cells. Over time, the excess sugar within the blood steadily poisons the pancreas causing it to make less insulin and making it even more complex to maintain blood glucose under control.

Being overweight is a main cause of insulin resistance - at least 80% of persons with type 2 are obese. Genetic reasons are additional factors to be involved in the cause of type 2. A family history of this problem has been found to develop the chances of getting it.

Yoga has thousands of different asanas (poses) that are designed to stretch and strengthen different parts of the body. By regularly performing yoga poses for weight loss, you can be sure that you're slimming down the healthy way!

Here are 5 of the best yoga poses for weight loss you can try:

1. Bow Pose (Dhanurasana)

Although a little complicated for a first time yogi, the Bow Pose can be perfected through practice. It effectively burns fat while toning your abdominal area as well as your arms and legs.

This basic pose is one of the easiest yoga poses for weight loss. It is designed to tone the abdominal muscles and firm the buttocks.

How to do it:

Start by lying face down with the tops of your feet flat on the floor. Place your hands under your shoulders while pressing your hips and legs down. Slowly lift your upper body and head away from the mat. Keep your shoulders back and your gaze upwards. Stay in this position for 4-5 deep breaths before releasing to exhale.

3. Warrior I Pose (Virabhadrasana I)

The Warrior I is an important pose to learn when you're doing yoga for weight loss. It helps tone the abdominal, arm and thigh muscles. According to experts, the pose has more effects on weight loss when performed as part of a sequence.

How to do it:

Start by standing straight with your feet about 4-5 steps apart. Slowly rotate both your feet and torso towards the left. Keeping your right leg straight, slowly bend your left knee over your toes. Then raise your arms above your head in prayer position before raising your head to gaze at your hands. Hold for several breaths before going back to the starting position.

Lying down on the floor, slowly bring your knees to your chest while keeping your ankles together. Raise your head away from the mat while clasping your arms over your knees. Take 4-5 deep breaths before relaxing.

5. Side Stretch Pose (Parsvottanasana)

Again one of the easiest yoga poses for weight loss, the Side Stretch is effective in burning calories and raising your heart rate.

How to do it:

Start this position with your feet wide apart. Turn both your torso and feet to the right. Hinge your upper body over your right leg until it's parallel to the floor then reach your hands to the ground. With every exhale, move your torso closer to your right thigh. Hold for several breaths, relax, then repeat in the opposite direction.

Turning to yoga for weight loss will not only help you slim down, but will also improve your balance and flexibility.

Michelle Nicole is an avid fan of the healthy lifestyle. Yoga is her passion and she shared her love for the discipline through her book Yoga for Beginners. If you'd like to learn more yoga beginner's tips and other helpful info from Michelle Nicole, her book is also available in kindle edition.

Don't want a harsh, tricky detox plan that requires you to buy all sorts of special herbal ingredients or worse, a water detox? A smoothie packed with natural superfoods in an easy to digest form ticks all those boxes as well as making a detox diet more enjoyable! All these smoothie ingredients are easy to find in your local shops.

I have compiled a list of my favourite 7 detox smoothies that are guaranteed to help you to lose weight, get through the day with energy to spare, promote great skin and generally feel good all over... and more.

By using beautiful fresh produce, organic if possible, and a blender, you can easily whip up these easy peasy detox smoothie recipes in your own kitchen and save $$.

1) South Seas Smoothie

Just like regular water, coconut water helps detox your body by flushing out harmful bacteria and keeping you hydrated. Coconut water helps you stay hydrated because it's an excellent source of electrolytes, and one 8.5-ounce serving has fifteen times more potassium than most sports drinks. Potassium is one of the electrolytes that helps your body replace and retain the fluids needed to operate most efficiently.

Citrus Fruits are very acidic and acidic fruits are excellent for helping the body detox. Oranges, while being acidic, are also high in vitamin C and the fiber they provide is necessary for healthy bowel elimination.

Cucumbers work as a detox aid, facilitating excretion of wastes through the kidneys, thus avoiding the body's need to purge waste through the skin. In other words, cucumbers are good for your healthy skin too.

Foods rich in omega-3 fatty acids like flaxseed and avocado can aid in the detoxification process by lubricating your intestinal walls, absorbing unhealthy toxins, and then helping to remove those toxins from your body.

Antioxidants found in red berries can help counter free-radical damage, which also helps your skin fight the aging process. Berries also aid in controlling blood sugar and the flax and avocado contain omega-3 fatty acids, which are good for the skin and also help fight inflammation.

Raw Red Cabbage is full of a cancer-fighting glucosinate, Sinigrin which has been proven effective in the fight against cancer cells. Chia seeds provide valuable fiber, bananas are high in potassium, while the blueberries are packed with antioxidants. This is a powerful and effective detox smoothie. If the cabbage flavor is too strong, add extra blueberries.

These detox smoothies are nourishing and delicious and depending on your needs, you can choose a smoothie to suit...

In a blended form, smoothies are a quick way for your digestive system to quickly and easily break down the nutrients into an easily digestible form for maximum detox impact.

These recipes are for the most part created from low GI ingredients which is also an important factor as there is a slow-release of nutrients to boost your energy levels for longer period over your day as well as feeling fuller for longer and reducing food cravings.

In our busy lives, we often don't look after our nutritional health as well as we could. Smoothies are packed with energy and make a healthy nourishing snack and remember, children love smoothies! Make your kids a healthy after school smoothie and they will reap the benefits both mentally and physically. You can make lovely cleansing and detox fruit smoothies, green smoothies, vegetable smoothies as well as adding in powder supplements such as maca, greens, ground chia seeds and slippery elm for bowel health.

Claire Rathausky is passionate about natural health and she loves writing about the enormous benefits of supplementing your diet with delicious natural fresh juices and smoothies.

She has many tips and ideas to share, ranging from many delicious juicing and smoothie recipes, the health benefits of juicing, how to detox, which are the best juicer machines, best blenders and lists recommended juicing and smoothie books to tickle your inspiration...

To understand what are the benefits of yoga, we first need to look at what yoga is. Yoga is a Sanskrit word meaning union, and yoga is the union of body, mind and spirit. Yoga is not just yoga exercises, that part is actually just a very small part. The benefit of yoga is that it leads to profound changes in your whole life. That might sound a bit scary to start with, but it really isn't bad! The changes that yoga will make in your life are all great benefits, leading to a more relaxed way of life, better health, better sleep and being better able to deal with problems.

It is hard to convey just how much yoga can benefit you and lead you to a more satisfying life - and hard to believe until you experience these changes for yourself. All you need is an open mind and a willingness to follow your teachers instructions. The first and most important of those instructions is to take time for yourself on your yoga mat, leave your worries and busy life behind and be fully present in your yoga class.

The changes and benefits brought about by yoga are not hocus-pocus, magic, or some kind of religious sect. The changes happen through allowing your body, mind and breath to work together in harmony. Most people have forgotten how to breathe fully, allowing the breath to reach into the spaces between your joints and soothe aches and pains. Most people have no idea how to relax each area of their body and allow the universe to support them.

Yoga Benefit 1 - Flexibility

The yoga exercises (or asanas, the Sanskrit word for postures) you will do in a yoga class will help your body to become and remain flexible. I am sure you have seen pictures of yogis twisting their bodies into interesting and exotic postures - this may be the end result for some, but for most people the starting point is to release their tense and inflexible joints that have resulted from spending too much time sitting at a desk or behind the wheel of a car. Achieving this flexibility will reduce your risk of injury, lead to a more graceful way of moving and better posture.

While your joints are benefiting from gentle stretching, you will also be lubricating the joints, ligaments and tendons. That lubrication will then assist you to become more flexible. How's that for synergy?

Yoga Benefit 2 - Reduce Flab and Increase Bone Strength

Muscles that have become weak and flabby become toned through practising yoga, leading to increased strength. This also helps to lose excess flab from your body. While you will be encouraged to practise yoga at your own level, as you increase in flexibility you will perform more weight bearing exercise. This is important in keeping your bones strong to protect against osteoporosis.

Yoga Benefit 3 - Detoxify Your Body

While performing the asanas you will be massaging your internal organs, helping to clean out accumulated toxins and also giving them a soothing workout. This helps to keep disease away. Drink water after your yoga session to flush the toxins away.

Yoga Benefit 4 - Learn to Relax, Handle Stress and Sleep well

The final pose in every yoga class is known as Savasana, or corpse pose. This doesn't mean that you have overdone your yoga class! It is a relaxation pose that is used to allow you to accept all the changes that your body has undergone during the class. It is also incredibly relaxing. It is a form of meditation. When you do this in your yoga class you will get the benefit of relaxation and also you will learn a skill that can be called upon at moments of stress, or at times when you cannot sleep.

Yoga Benefit 5 - Look and Feel Younger

Gently stretching muscles and massaging your organs brings a supply of fresh blood to your organs, this flushes out toxins and brings a supply of fresh blood to nourish every part of your body, helping to keep you looking and feeling younger.

Yoga Benefit 6 - Increase Your Lung Capacity

As you learn to breath deeply in your yoga class, your lung capacity will increase. Most people do not realise that they have forgotten how to breathe completely and fully, and find great benefit in the simple practise of breathing fully. Complete breathing is also wonderfully relaxing.

Yoga Benefit 7 - Wonderful and Understanding Teachers

Yoga teachers are professionally trained and much of their training involves participating in yoga classes, learning from yoga masters and studying yogic philosophy. This leads to a pool of great teachers who are understanding, patient, professional and just wonderful people!

Your yoga teacher will lead you gently through the steps to learn yoga postures, yogic breathing and relaxation. Each teacher is different and has a slightly different style, so if the first class you go to does not suit you, just try a different class. I have been to a few classes that didn't suit me, but I have never felt judged or out of place in a yoga class. All the yoga teachers I have met are very understanding and approachable.

When you go to your first yoga classes make sure you tell the teacher about any concerns, health issues or injuries you have. She will make sure the poses are adjusted to suit you. It is always advisable to arrive a few minutes early to get yourself set up, pick a spot where you feel comfortable and spend a little time relaxing and winding down from your day before starting your class.

You may find some things in a yoga class a bit confronting to start with. Some teachers lead the class in an "Om" chant at the beginning or end of the class. If you aren't comfortable to do this, just sit quietly and listen.

At the end of a class the teacher will usually say "Namaste". This has various translations, all similar, my favourite is "the divine light in me reaches out to the divine light in you".

After attending yoga classes for about six years, I found that I was going to be spending New Year's eve and day alone. I had been to a yoga retreat at an Ashram in Mangrove Mountain and I saw that they had an evening of chanting planned to bring in the New Year. I went along, alone, and spent the evening chanting "Hare Krishna".

It was a wonderful and magical way to bring in the New Year. If someone had told me six years previously that I would be doing something like that, I would have thought they were mad!

Namaste

If you are suffering from stress, painful joints, or are just spending too long sitting behind a desk or behind the well of a car, you need to do something about it before it is too late.

There are ways to deal with these issues without resorting to drugs. For yoga classes to deal with these issues, click here.

Most would agree that healthy living involves with healthy eating. However, we can take things to extremes and follow a strict diet all the time. We can try one diet that is all the rage, only to find out 5-10 years later that it is no longer considered healthy. Of course, we can only try our best. This is why I write recipes that take minimal preparation time pretty much from scratch for the modern person living in the modern world, using healthier yummy ingredients whenever possible. If you are gluten intolerant or find that your health does better without gluten, or if like me, you can be healthy eating gluten maybe 3 days a week, this apple pie recipe is for you.

This is an occasional treat that I cook, especially in winter, when loved ones are cold and need more energy for a normal day. I used a mixture of gluten-free flours. Amongst them was rice flour. This makes the addition of water a bit tricky, as you could be using a different mixture of gluten-free flour. So remember that adding more one tablespoon at a time is better than using too much. Otherwise, all is easy.

I also believe in using whatever you have around the home. You do not need a rolling pin. I use a mug or clean bottle instead. If you do not have a board or chopping board you can roll the dough on, use a very big plastic serving plate or normal-size tray. Whether using a rolling pin and proper board or not, the board has to be covered by a clean plain-woven dishcloth, and it is best to cover the rolling pin in a clean sock. It is always handy when you have an odd sock to save it for apple pie time! I use the nearest approximation to a 9-inch or 20 cm pie dish too. Oh, and I prefer using a plate for chopping the apples, because it can be much quicker, and easy to clean. Then cooking is fun and never a chore, because you do not have the stress of "doing it right".

Ingredients for the pie crust (the dough bit):

2.5 cup flour (a cup is about 250 ml)

Tiny sprinkle of salt

1 cup butter

10-20 tbs cold water

Ingredients for the pie filling:

1 kg (about 2lbs) apples (tart ones are great, but any apples will do, no stress)

3/4 cup sugar

Just under 1/4 cup flour

1 tsp cinnamon

Shaving of a third of a nutmeg or about half a tsp of ground nutmeg (hint, shave it with an ordinary blunt eating knife in one hand whilst you hold it in the other hand).

1/8 tsp ground cloves

1/8 cup water

2 tbs butter

Start by cutting the butter into the salted flour (or use salted butter). I like using an ordinary fork to do this, till the butter bits are about pea-sized. Then add the water, fluffing and almost-stirring, until you can gather the dough into your hands and it sticks together. Separate in half.

Heat oven to 230º C (450º F).

Put half the dough on the covered board sprinkled with flour. Roll with socked rolling pin also sprinkled with flour. Roll evenly until it is large enough to fit into the bowl and go over the edges. Fold in half, then half again. Pick it up and put the middle of the pointy bit in the middle of the pie dish. Unfold carefully. Wet your fingers with water and smooth over the crust, repairing any cracks with watery fingers.

Put the remaining half of the dough on the board to be rolled later. This enables you to use the same container for the making of the filling; easier!

Chop the apples into quarters and slice them thinly. If the apples are soft, you can slice them more thickly. Add all the other filling ingredients except for the butter. Mix together and put on top of pie crust in the pan. Add pea-sized pieces of the butter on top.

Roll the other half of the pie crust, fold in quarters, and cover the pan with it, tucking the dough under the first crust layer with watery fingers.

Put in oven for 15 minutes. Then reduce heat to 175ºC (350ºF) and bake for about another 45 minutes. Pie is ready to come out of oven when either the top starts to leak sugary liquid or it is getting brown.

I.V.F or In Vitro Fertilisation is one procedure that is used to overcome fertility issues to give a couple their best chance at having a baby. IVF treatment is coordinated between the fertility doctor, fertility clinic and the couple. Apart from the fertility doctor couples have access to other staff at the fertility clinic including nurses and counsellors.

The IVF Procedure is relatively simple and is the joining of an egg and sperm in a specialised laboratory - outside the body. The fertilised egg or embryo is allowed to grow for some days in a protected environment before it is placed into the woman's uterus to increase the chances that a full pregnancy will occur. The actual fertilisation process takes a few hours and in this time a number of embryos' can form. Embryo's are usually *grown* for 5 days as they are then more likely to implant into the uterus. Once fertilised the embryos are transferred into the woman's uterus in a procedure similar to a pap smear.

If there is an issue with the husband's sperm the procedure is then carried out by Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI) - one sperm is inserted into each egg. An IVF treatment at your fertility clinic usually takes about 6 weeks and the steps involved include

Your first appointment with the fertility doctor - your specialist will review your medical history and any previous investigations and treatments. You and your partner should attend the first appointment together.

Treatment starts - The fertility doctor will issue any medications needed and will show you how to administer the Follicle Stimulating Hormone injections - it is recommended you both attend this appointment
Hormone stimulation - The Follicle Stimulating Hormone injections are performed via a diabetic style pen that stimulates your ovaries to produce more eggs than normal. There is a higher chance of fertilisation and pregnancy if more eggs can be collected.

Treatment Monitoring - throughout your cycle regular blood tests are used to measure your hormone levels and ultrasounds measure the size and number of your ovarian follicles. This also assists in working out the best time for collecting eggs.

Trigger Injection - egg collection is planned once the optimum number and size of follicles is achieved. You then receive a trigger injection of HCG (Human Chorionic gonatrophin) in the evening with the operation to retrieve the eggs performed 36 - 38 hours later. This injection helps to *trigger* ovulation.

Egg collection - egg collection is performed as day surgery under ultrasound guidance, you will be at the hospital for 4 hours and will need someone to drive you home. You must have the day off work. On the morning of your egg collection, your partner must be able to supply a fresh sperm sample to fertilise your eggs.

Fertilisation of your eggs - your eggs are taken to the laboratory and placed in a culture medium to prepare them for fertilisation later in the day. The sperm and eggs are placed in a dish for fertilisation to occur
Embryo development - your eggs and sperm are placed in an incubator set at 37 degrees (mimicking the temperature of the human body) The next day the fertility doctor will examine the eggs and call you to advise you on the development of the embryos

Transferring the embryos - the transfer of embryos is a simple day surgery procedure and takes place 5 days after the egg collection procedure is similar to having a pap smear.

Pregnancy test - the nurse at the fertility clinic will organise an appointment for you to have a blood test two weeks after the embryo transfer. If the blood tests are positive an ultrasound will be scheduled for 3 weeks later.

Okay, so for a while there, April felt more like February or early March as cold rain and even snowflakes fell to the ground here in the Philadelphia area, with freeze warnings in place even as of this writing. Not good for fragile plants or for us tired-of-winter folks, but that was then. Now mid-month, the thermometer reads 77 degrees and the great of-out-doors beckon. Only problem: Mosquitoes are not far behind.

In the good old days, that just meant an annoying bite or two and buzzing in our ears while trying to get to sleep. But years later, the mosquito-borne West Nile virus made an appearance on our shores, hitting an all-time high in 2012. Last year, another one, Chikungunya, came our way with such symptoms as fever, nausea, muscle and joint pain. And now we have a third mosquito-borne illness, this one now making headlines, such as USA Today's "Health officials say Zika 'Scarier than we thought."

So, here's what you should know...

Six months ago, most of us had never heard the word Zika, let alone given it a second thought. Named after a Ugandan forest, it was discovered back in 1947 with the first human cases reported in 1952. Fast forward several decades when, one year ago, the Pan American Health Organization sent out an alert about the first confirmed case in Brazil-far enough away from our shores so still not a big deal for us. Be advised, however, that the alert has since been updated.

And now just two months ago, the World Health Organization declared the Zika virus "a public health emergency of international concern." That means us, too. Indeed, the threat is so great that the White House recently asked Congress for $1.9 billion to help combat and curb its impact here. Hopefully, the monies will soon be forthcoming, as the primary culprit, the Aedes aegypti mosquito, has already invaded 30 states. Likewise, another carrier, the Aedes albopictus mosquito, aka the Asian tiger mosquito, has made its way here, as well.

Meanwhile, just this week a Camden woman was diagnosed with the virus; earlier two cases were confirmed right here in Montgomery County-all travel-related, but still... Nationwide, 346 people have already been infected.

Fortunately, just 20% of those exposed to the virus become ill and the symptoms are usually mild in nature and include:

Fever

Rash

Conjunctivitis (pink eye)

Joint pain

The greater concern, however, is to expectant mothers whose developing fetuses are at great risk for microcephaly, a birth defect that causes smaller than normal heads and poorly developed brains. It's also potentially fatal. Of the 346 Americans so far infected, 32 were pregnant-at risk not just during the first three months their pregnancies but up to the sixth month, as well.

We know now, too, that Zika is linked to various neurological diseases in adults-and that it's spread not just by the bite of a mosquito but sexually too. In fact, that was the case in seven of the 346 already diagnosed here. Note, too, that a vaccine does not yet exist, so...

If travel plans are in the offing, keep abreast of alerts, particularly if pregnant. To date, 24 countries are on the travel warning list, including Mexico, Brazil, Puerto Rico, the Virgin Islands, and the Dominican Republic.

Then take a look outside at your surroundings, as standing water is the perfect mosquito breeding ground. The drill includes:

Avoid wet, grassy areas.

Keep the pool clean and chlorinated; also remove standing water on the pool cover.

Clean out clogged rain gutters.

Turn plastic wading pools, wheelbarrows, etc. over when not in use.

Dispose of old tires.

Toss out empty containers-plastic or otherwise-as they can collect water.

Empty flower pot dishes of any water.

Bring in recycling containers asap, so water doesn't collect in them.

Meanwhile, try to stay indoors at dawn, dusk, and early evening. And, of course, wear long pants, long-sleeved tops, shoes and socks if going out there. Use insect repellent, too, but...

DO NOT to use more than 30% DEET on anyone.

DO NOT to use aerosol spray insecticides in pressurized containers, as they can be inhaled and/or get into eyes.

DO NOT to use repellent mixed with sunscreen, since reapplying sunscreen every few hours risks overexposure to the repellent.

Your safest bet: The worry-free, chemical-free N'visible patch. This one-of-a-kind, vitamin-based, DEET-free protection is both safe and effective. Field-tested in Africa, it protects within 30 minutes, lasts up to 12 hours, and actually improves with continuous use. The reason: Mosquitoes hunt for CO2 which is masked by the patch. No creams, lotions, or sprays to deal with. Instead, simply apply the N'visible patch anywhere on the skin-arm, wrist, chest, hand-and you're good to go, no fuss, no muss.

Carol is a learning specialist who worked with middle school children and their parents at the Methacton School District in Pennsylvania for more than 25 years and now supervises student teachers at Gwynedd-Mercy University and Ursinus College. Along with the booklet, 149 Parenting School-Wise Tips: Intermediate Grades & Up, and numerous articles in such publications as Teaching Pre-K-8 and Curious Parents, she has authored three successful learning guidebooks: Getting School-Wise: A Student Guidebook, Other-Wise and School-Wise: A Parent Guidebook, and ESL Activities for Every Month of the School Year. Carol also writes for examiner.com; find her articles at http://www.examiner.com/wise-parenting-in-philadelphia/carol-josel. For more information, go to http://www.schoolwisebooks.com.

Most people would identify sun exposure as the primary risk factor for getting skin cancer, but few would think of antibiotics as a contributing factor to this deadly disease. Yet there is an entire class of antibiotics that are known to cause a condition known as photocarcinogenesis that can multiply the damage normally done by the sun and lead to an increase in the risk of skin cancer.

The Quinolone class of antibiotics, which includes such common antibiotics as Levaquin (Levofloxacin) and Cipro (Ciprofloxacin), has a LONG history of causing dangerous toxic conditions. In fact, no less than nine different Quinolone Antibiotics have actually been approved by the FDA and released onto the market only to be found to be so dangerous that they had to be removed and recalled.

While each one was removed for various different toxic reactions, at least four were removed due to a problem called 'Phototoxicity'. Phototoxicity is a common occurrence with many prescription medications requiring people using them to stay out of the sun because of the excess sun damage and sunburn that can result. But the phototoxicity that is caused by the Quinolone antibiotics may be so bad that it is causing genetic damage to the cells and contributing to a more damaging form of phototoxicity called 'Photocarcinogenesis'.

A carcinogen is a substance that is known to cause cancer; therefore, photocarcinogenesis refers to a substance that can actually cause skin cancer in the presence of sunlight. Yet this fact was only discovered AFTER these drugs had been released onto the market and significant numbers of complaints of severe skin problems from sunlight exposure were reported.

While it would be logical to think that the FDA might be extra cautious and require more extensive studies for sun damage from Quinolone antibiotics considering their checkered past, this does not seem to be the case. Several Quinolones have been approved since these nine have been recalled and all Quinolones have a warning on them to stay out of the sun. But few people read package inserts and doctors and pharmacists can't possibly discuss every warning of every drug with each patient - so this fact often remains unknown to the millions of people taking these antibiotics every year.

Even more disturbing is that there is now a Quinolone cream approved for use of skin infections - such as acne. This cream will be used primarily by teenagers who are not known to be cautious about going out in the sun. Not only that, but the possibility that teens and young adults will be using this drug for years and even decades, as acne drugs generally are, combined with even a small increase in photocarcinogenic damage at such a young age could significantly increase lifetime skin cancer risk.

Since it is WELL known by drug manufacturers and the FDA that Quinolone Antibiotics increase skin cancer risk in animals and cause skin damage in humans, those taking Quinolones regularly for non-life threatening chronic conditions, such as acne, bronchitis and sinus infections, are unwitting test subjects for the drug companies and the FDA to determine long-term skin cancer risk.

http://www.side-effects-site.com/quinolone-antibiotics.html ____________________________________________________________________ Kerri Knox, RN is a Registered Nurse and Functional Medicine Practitioner. With over 14 years of experience in health care, she has the unique perspective of being solidly grounded in Conventional Medicine and being well versed in Alternative Medicine.

Autism Just Doesn't Affect The Child Diagnosed It Affects The Whole Family.

It's such a misunderstood disorder and has been linked to many possible factors. Although the child with autism may be in physical pain and have trouble communicating, the family shares their pain as well. It can be especially frustrating before you know what the issue is. When CJ was young, I knew that he was in pain and felt helpless at first. Then, my inner warrior kicked in and I found out all I could about autism and how to heal my son from the inside out. Autism used to be blamed on the mother and the children were often hidden out of sight at home or in an institution. As more research sheds light on this complicated disease, and more children are diagnosed correctly, more people speak out on the effects autism has had on their children as well as families.

Kelly Preston and John Travolta's Son Jett Was Diagnosed With Autism

Recently Kelly Preston was on the tv show The Doctors and she shared her feelings about what contributed to her son Jett's autism and seizures. She feels there were several factors involved. During pregnancy she had food poisoning, which she feels affected Jett as well. A hard and fast delivery resulted in a ruptured placenta, causing a high fever. Kelly was given antibiotics to combat the infection. Kelly asked 3 doctors if it was safe to take medication and breastfeed at the same time. They all told her it was OK. Well, Jett got thrush, a yeast infection-Candida-that often results in leaky gut syndrome as well as other gut issues.

I Can Relate To Kelly's Feelings

I believe the gut is a key issue in the cause of autism. When I was pregnant with CJ, I had two bladder infections and was given antibiotics both times. No one ever told me to take probiotics during and/or after I finished the medication to replenish my good gut bacteria. I believe that had I taken probiotics after the first infection, I would not have gotten another one. I really believe this affected CJ as he was born with cradle cap-another type of yeast/Candida infection. Many children with autism have leaky gut syndrome. Giving pregnant women antibiotics without telling them about the importance of replenishing their gut bacteria with probiotics is the real problem and the beginning of a major catastrophe ahead.

An Imbalanced Gut Equals An Unhappy Baby

Poor CJ had stomach issues when he was a baby. He threw up all the time and cried. People told me he would grow out of it-that he was just colicky or a fussy baby. I wish I knew then what I know now about the importance of probiotics. He wouldn't have had to suffer so long until we began to heal his gut. CJ was miserable and in pain the first few years of his life until we discovered fermented and cultured foods. Once we began to replenish the good bacteria in his gut, CJ slowly began to heal.

This Is Important Information To All Woman Considering Having A Baby

Your gut health influences your child's future over-all health. Research has linked a mother's gut flora to her baby's gut flora. In fact, your gut flora changes each trimester to help support the baby's growth during pregnancy. Babies with a vaginal birth have more diverse gut flora than babies born by C-section.

Researchers think that this may lead to better health as they grow up. So if you eat healthy and keep your gut bacteria balanced, your baby will have a balanced gut. It seems so simple, but how many OB/GYN's are informing their patients about this? I was told to take my prenatal vitamins with folic acid, but never told about the importance of gut health. I know part of the problem is that gut bacteria has only recently gotten the attention it deserves, so maybe my doctors just weren't aware of the importance of a balanced gut.

Seventeen years later, I wonder how many doctors recommend a balanced diet including fermented/cultured foods to balance gut bacteria? Or how about recommending a "No Sugar Diet?" so that if there is a yeast infection in her body, it won't feed and thrive on the added sugar? That's an easy place to start!

There Are Many Theories As To What Causes Autism

I believe that there is not just one cause per child. Rather, I think several factors influence the likelihood that your child will be diagnosed with autism. I also believe the best way to decrease the chances is to keep your gut balanced before, during and after pregnancy. No doctor knows everything about every possible cause of any disorder. That's why it's so important for you to be your own warrior and research as much as possible. An imbalanced gut may be just a piece of the puzzle related to autism, but it is definitely worth the time and energy to research it. Besides, a healthy gut:

· Improves digestive function

· Improves bowel function

· Improves liver function

· Improves circulatory function

· Improves joint and muscle function

· Improves sleep function

· Improves resistance to allergies

· Improves vitamin absorption

· Improves lactose tolerance

· Improves gluten tolerance

· Improves appetite

· Improves skin quality

· Improves metabolism

· Improves mental clarity (gut-brain connection)

· Decreases your digestive ailments

· Decreases your stomach ailments

· Decreases incidence of heart burn

· Decreases incidence of constipation

· Decreases incidence of diarrhea

· Decreases the presence of yeast infections

· Decreases incidence of oral cavity infections

· Decreases wrinkles

· Decreases gas and bloating

· Increases nutritional absorption

· Increases energy

· Increases hydration

So who wouldn't want to replenish their good gut bacteria?

It's Up To You To Be Your Own Warrior

Doctors are ordinary people faced with an extraordinary job of healing people. They do not have all the answers, nor do they know all the questions to ask. Read and learn as much as you can about the importance of a healthy gut BEFORE you get pregnant. You will be given so much advice from doctors, friends, family and even strangers! Don't take it all as the only truth, but at the same time don't discount what someone has to say. Not all "old wives tales" are fantasy; most of them have been handed down for generations. Our ancestors knew the importance of fermented/cultured foods, but we began to push this in the background as processed and convenience foods inundated our culture. Sometimes simple is better!

Is Their Proof That Fermented Foods Work?

People always ask me that question, and I have three answers for them. First, YES! CJ is living/breathing proof of a healthy boy thanks to probiotics. Second, history and our ancestors have shown the importance of fermented foods. We don't do what they did anymore and it shows in the state of our health today. Obesity and diseases related to inflammation are skyrocketing! Let's go back in time and eat simply and healthy!

Third, don't believe me, all you have to do is go to your favorite web browser and type in benefits of fermented foods to read all about the research proving the benefits of fermented/cultured probiotic foods. It's amazing how much money is being spent on research proving what our ancestors knew so many years ago! Keep in mind, it's just FOOD. So try some cultured/fermented foods. You'll be glad you did!

The company's CEO and Founder Tamara Yapp, a mother of seven and wife, is the lively, relatable host at RealFoodRealLife.tv. She created this company and this show to provide information on the newest and most effective ways to lead a healthy lifestyle.

Do you remember the kitchen from your childhood? Do you remember how it was the heart and soul of the home? Not only did all the meals get created there and many meals get eaten there, but that is where major decisions were made, "heart to heart" conversations were had and where visitors might have been greeted.

Today, in my own kitchen, it isn't much different. The same important things are happening there. The kitchen is also where homework gets done, art projects get praised, and blogs get written. And very importantly, it is where lifelong lessons about food and nutrition are taught and learned.

As parents, raising healthy kids is a top priority for all of us. We don't want it to be a temporary thing either. My personal mission is to raise lifelong healthy eaters. I try to move beyond the idea of "eat what is on your plate because I said so" and try to develop a basic, kid-friendly understanding of the importance of healthy eating. I believe that the more we talk about nutrients, the importance of "eating the rainbow", why real food is more beneficial for our bodies and minds than processed food, as well as other things, the more likely my kids become flourishing, healthy kids now and flourishing, healthy adults in the future.

One of the best places to help healthy kids thrive in the way I am describing is in the kitchen. Bring them right into the heart and soul of the house! Let them watch, let them observe, let them question.

And then let them cook.

Kids of all ages can be hands on with food prep to some degree. It just takes a little planning, maybe a little preparation before you invite them in to join you, but it can be totally manageable. This is a rich learning experience for them and we should try to do this as often as we can.

Besides... it is FUN! If you are doing it right, you will share lots of laughs, good conversation and great quality time together. I am going to help you do that.

Before you jump up and call everyone into the kitchen, I want to share some things you should think about FIRST.

LET'S GET THOSE KIDS INTO THE KITCHEN!

HERE ARE 3 WAYS TO HELP GET YOU STARTED:

1. Set Up Beforehand

You don't have to necessarily do much, but taking a few minutes to set up a few things means that you can focus on the kids and the food more instead of details that can be taken care of beforehand.

How much of this you do really depends on the ages of your children and their familiarity with the kitchen. With younger children you may take out all the ingredients and tools, have everything already measured and ready to be poured into a bowl for mixing. With older kids or kids more familiar in the kitchen, they may take out the ingredients as you read them or they read them off, they may do their own measuring, and so on.

No matter how much or how little you do, there is always something to do beforehand. Some additional things may include:

- Taking out extra dish- or paper towels in case of spills.
- Clearing off the cooking area, including the sink and oven if necessary.
- Deciding on a recipe.
- Setting out all the kitchen tools required.
- Taking ingredients out of the pantry and refrigerator.

2. Create work stations and set up some rules

The last thing we want is kids running into the kitchen, pushing for a first chance to use the peeler and having a screaming match break out. When my kids come into the kitchen, everyone has an assigned spot and job to begin with. We may rotate. We may not. But it is very clear as to who is going where right from the beginning.

Rule are important, too. The kitchen can be a dangerous place without rules. So we establish some right from the beginning, then change or add to the list as need arises.

Some rules you might include are:

- Wash your hands before and after cooking.
- Tie your hair back.
- Use your apron.
- Never touch the stove, it might be on.
- Ask before adding an ingredient.
- Only use the stove or a knife when Momma is with you.

Use rules that make sense for your kids and kitchen.

3. Relax and have FUN

If you can accept that messes will be make, shells might make it into the dish and an ingredient might be accidentally left out, then you have the right frame of mind to relax and enjoy the experience with your kids. The most important thing is not that the final product turns out perfect. The much more important thing is that kids are having a rich, hands on experience in the kitchen with YOU. What they learn will stay with them for a long time. They are more likely to connect healthy food and healthy eating with warm, positive feelings by the opportunities you give them to be hands on in the kitchen. So relax, smile, laugh off the "oopsies" and "uh oh's" and have FUN!

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What is mesothelioma, what causes it, and how is mesothelioma treated? Mesothelioma is really a form of cancer that starts within the mesothelial lining for the lungs, heart, or abdomen. Mesothelioma is mostly a rare cancer usually involving the lungs and is caused by contact with asbestos. Asbestos is made from tiny fibers, frequently used to produce insulation inside housing, educational institutions and other buildings.

Asbestosis

In addition to mesothelioma, contact with asbestos raises the danger of indiscriminate lung cancer diagnoses that may often be attributed to smoking or else other hazards. Asbestosis, a noncancerous, constant lung illness is thought to arise from asbestos subjection, as well as other cancers belonging to the larynx (throat) and kidneys.

Peritoneal, or else abdominal mesothelioma, commonly occurs in individuals with a description of extreme and frequent contact with asbestos that usually develops asbestosis. That said, pleural mesothelioma often occurs in persons subjected to low ranges of those fibers and that have not formerly developed asbestosis.

A number of the warning signs of mesothelioma can take years to appear and be very indistinct in nature. A lot of these warning signs are merely chalked up to the -aging process- and will be misdiagnosed. So, should you or someone you already know have a well-known exposure to asbestos and are exhibiting signs of a persistent lung complaint, you need to almost certainly see a medical doctor and allow them in on your little secret. Again, an exceedingly real danger here is that -the symptoms are much like those of getting older, and a lot of us are likely to overlook them until more harsh, and potentially lethal signs or symptoms occur-. This brings us to our next topic.

Symptoms

Diagnosing mesothelioma in the first phases is often exceedingly difficult because there are various conditions that produce similar symptoms. So, what are the progressive signs of Mesothelioma? Many people with pleural mesothelioma complain of shortness of breath and chest tenderness - in particular underneath the ribs, but other signs and symptoms can include:

- Pain at the site of origin

- Difficulty swallowing

- Inflammation of the neck along with face

- Weight-loss- Cough

- Respiratory infections

- Weakness- Digestive and/or bowel problems

- Soreness within the chest (stemming from fluid buildup and sometimes an indication of pleural mesothelioma)

Your doctor should have an x-ray performed or even an MRI for anyone that has a established contact with asbestos with these indicators. -Depending on the findings of your x-ray as well as your indicators, your medical professional will order multi-slice CT scanning otherwise an MRI scanning to determine whether there is a growth which may be a mesothelioma-. Bear in mind also that shortness of breath and pain in your chest because of an increase of fluid in the pleura are sometimes indicators of pleural mesothelioma, but signs of peritoneal mesothelioma include weight loss and abdominal pain in addition to swelling as a result of a buildup of fluid in your abdomen. Further symptoms of peritoneal mesothelioma can include:

- Bowel obstruction,

- Blood clotting abnormalities

- Anemia (low blood count)

- Fever

These conditions could be the result of mesothelioma or, less serious conditions as a consequence of asbestos malignancies and the fact that symptoms of mesothelioma generally emerge many years following exposure.

Too, depending upon whether it's pleural or peritoneal, the effected organ(s) may possibly start to leak fluid into adjoining areas such as the space within the chest and may even exhibit symptoms similar to those appearing in congestive heart failure. (puffiness, swelling of limbs, excess weight) The symptoms slowly grow to be more noticeable prompting the patient to seek medical intercession. With the worsening of the illness, the initial indications emerge and are usually diffuse tenderness in your chest, but less prevalent than shortness of breath along with cough.

Okay, so you're perhaps thinking, -If I do have it - What's the treatment-? This is a useful question, but one that may have several responses subject to the phase of growth of the disease. Early detection of the cancer can entail antineoplastic drug treatments including chemotherapy and later stages possibly will include the use of this intervention in addition to radiation treatment. So, the scenario goes like this - after the diagnosis is made by a medical doctor, (usually a biopsy of sort) he will probably send you to an oncologist (cancer specialist).

The oncologist will next conclude the best treatment for your specific situation. It may be just chemotherapy or it could be radiation therapy to reduce the tumor. On the other hand, maybe a surgical intervention along with the other two. Only a medical doctor will be able to tell. It boils down to this: You've just been diagnosed with a terminal kind of cancer. You've choices in this case to potentially make yourself better and exist a while longer. All these interventions come with probable risks. And, you may still die from your disease - What do you want to do?

John Wallis is a registered nurse with over 15 years of healthcare related work experience. He currently works in Akron, OH, and can be reached at jwallis@slasherdesigns.com

We are all experiencing the dramatic unexplainable rate increases in our insurance premiums.

You know the reasons given to us for these increases. Millions of people who were previously uninsured are now covered. Medical questions are no longer asked, therefore a healthy person pays the same rate as the person with major health issues. The healthy person's premium was increased to match the person with major health issues.

Are there options? Yes there are.

1. No health insurance. What would happen when you have a stroke or heart attack or breast cancer? Would you have sufficient personal assets to pay the hospital and Doctor bills? This is high risk should a medical need arise and this person is subject to the personal responsibility tax when filing taxes.

2. A health plan through your employer ACA plan (Affordable Care Act). Some employers provide insurance for their employers and their families. Some employers provide health insurance ONLY for the employee and not their family. Even when health insurance is provided by the employer do you know what the coverage includes?

3. A non-compliant ACA health plan - at a lower premium, with more benefits included. Often it may be to your advantage as a healthy person to purchase a health plan that is off the exchange, that is not part of the Affordable Care Act plans. Or perhaps one member of the family is on a ACA plan while the other members choose to go off the exchange to reduce the overall health insurance costs.

f) Medical necessity for a procedure is determined by you and your Doctor, not by the insurance company, as is the time allotted to be in a hospital and what hospital.

Disadvantages:

a) Not all applicants are accepted due to current major health issues.

b) Applicant is subject to Personal responsibility tax. 1% - 2%.

There are many health insurance carriers. There are many agents who are available and would like to sell you "their" plan. It is to your advantage to talk with an agent who has sold various plans with different companies.

Why? Because from experience they have seen the benefits and disadvantage of each plan.

Whereas, a captive agent, selling only one product for one company has his/her best interest at heart vs yours.

Research your options before renewing your current health plan or purchasing a health insurance plan.